Families of Plane Crash Victims: If Anything Found, Call Police

Police located the majority of the wreckage from a June 2 plane crash on the ocean's floor about a mile off Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett late last week.
Durell Godfrey

Recovery efforts will resume Tuesday morning for the remaining missing wreckage from the June 2 plane crash off the Amagansett shoreline, East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo said.

Meanwhile, the families of the four victims asked that people keep a lookout and call police if they find anything.

"If you are boating or beach walking and find anything you believe may assist the investigation into the plane crash on the ocean at Indian Wells Beach, please contact your local police department," the families said in a statement issued Monday and posted on the social media pages belonging to Krupinski family businesses.

Ben and Bonnie Krupinski, a well-known philanthropic couple from East Hampton, died in the plane crash along with their 22-year-old grandson, William Maerov, and Jon Dollard, a pilot, when a Piper PA-31 Navajo crashed into the water about a mile and a half off Indian Wells Beach.

The Krupinskis' bodies were immediately pulled from the water. A third body was found Friday amid the wreckage, which was first located Thursday about a mile off Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett. The fourth remained missing as of Monday. Police have not said whether it was that of Mr. Maerov or Mr. Dollard that was found, as they awaited a positive identification from the Suffolk County medical examiner's office.

"If anything is found that could possibly be related to the crash at sea or on the beach please contact E.H.T.P.D. immediately at 631-537-7575," Chief Sarlo said. Dive teams were to return to the search zone Tuesday morning.

The majority of the wreckage has been removed from the sea floor after a police dive search. The chief said Friday that the plane is in about 40 to 45 feet of water, with about 3 to 5 feet of visibility for divers.

A commercial salvage company contracted by the National Transportation Safety Board took the wreckage to a secure location, where it is awaiting an N.T.S.B. investigation, Chief Sarlo said Monday.

About the Author

Taylor K. Vecsey returned to The East Hampton Star in 2014. She was the founding editor of East Hampton Patch news site and also ran Southampton Patch. Ms. Vecsey is a member of the Bridgehampton Fire Department, where she volunteers as an emergency medical technician.